At the St Vincent de Paule old people’s home, a considerable number of elderly persons are having to suffer the excessive heat wave of the last few days without any air conditioning in their rooms.

Due to a number of faults, a number of wards at this government home were left without air conditioning for the last two weeks. This happened as temperatures in Malta reached up to over 35 degrees Celsius.

Despite the rising temperatures and the fact that the air conditioning system in these wards has been down for over two weeks, it seems that the faults have not yet been repaired. Thus, the elderly residents of this home are still without air conditioning in their rooms. 

“Air conditioning is surely not a luxury for these elderly persons, especially when considering the hot weather that we are currently experiencing. It is a basic and necessary requirement for these residents” said Dr Marie Louise Coleiro Preca, and Silvio Parnis, Labor’s spokespersons for social solidarity and elderly persons. 

They reminded that while these elderly persons are being left without air conditioning in their wards, government is taking away 80% of their pensions as payment for residing in a government home. 

Labor’s plan for elderly care, “Dignity and protection to elderly persons”, promises to take less than the 80% that government is currently taking out of the pensions of residents in government’s homes for the elderly. This will effectively increase the residents’ disposable income.

Other Labor proposals for St Vincent de Paule, government’s largest elderly home in the Maltese islands, include the provision of banking service, an Internet Café and the provision of specialized staff to help elderly persons use Internet services and entertainment, as well as the development of a specialized recreational area. These will be accompanied by a shuttle service that facilitates mobility around the 1,000 bed complex. 

Labor’s plan states: “Elderly persons at St Vincent de Paule are presently leading a very passive life, characterized with solitude and boredom. We will work to transform this residence into a lively community. The various services that one normally finds in any normal community will be introduced in this residence”. 

Labor is also pledging to give residents the opportunity to participate in the running of the home. 

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